A Cause For Hope

by Turkana

This would be funny, if it weren't so sad and disturbing, but McClatchy had this, last Friday:

In a week of dramatic developments in the Middle East, the most dramatic development of all may have been the fact that the United States, long considered the region's indispensable player, was missing in action.

Lebanon compromised with Hezbollah. Israel engaged in peace talks with Syria, with Turkey mediating. The Iraqi puppet government of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki made military progress in Sadr City by specifically excluding U.S. troops. Saudi Arabia closed an arms deal with Russia.

As its closest allies cut deals with their adversaries this week over the Bush administration's opposition, Washington was largely reduced to watching.

Even better. It's not just that Bush wasn't helping the processes, he was actually trying to hinder them. Surprise!

More painful for President Bush, friends he's cultivated — and spent heavily on — in Lebanon and Iraq asked the United States to remain in the background, underlining how politically toxic an association with the U.S. can be for Arab leaders.